The Fantasia Film Festival is one of the most exciting times of the year for film fans as one of the most diverse selections of films gets screened and celebrated. The 2025 edition of the festival kicks off July 16th and runs to August 3rd. With an incredible lineup of over 100 feature films, the lineup can be a daunting one to explore. In this article, 7 of the most promising feature films in this lineup will be highlighted. Make sure to keep an eye on Buttered Popcorn for reviews from Fantasia and find the full screening lineup on the festival's official website.
Death Does Not Exist
One of the most exciting parts of attending the Fantasia Film Festival is finally having the chance to check out a selection of films that have already gained attention and screened at other film festivals throughout the year. Félix Dufour-Laperrière's Death Does Not Exist comes to Fantasia fresh off the film's appearances at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and the 2025 Annecy International Film Festival where the animated feature impressed many with its dynamic visual style and deeper meditation on the role of violence in protest and movements of social change. The film is thoughtful and honest, asking hard questions that are perfectly aligned to the current moment. My full review for the film from its Cannes debut can be found here.
Fixed
While the world of adult animated features is not always the most prolific due to some studios declaring the concept too risky or uninteresting, 2025 gives a rare treat for the genre with Genndy Tartakovsky's Fixed. After over a decade in developmental hell, Fixed finally brings us a new Tartakovsky feature for the first time in 7-years, Known for his work both in film and television including directing credits on Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Hotel Transylvania, and Primal, Tartakovsky's talent speaks for itself. Following a dog during his last 24-hours before being neutered, Fixed is sure to bring plenty of laughs and holds special weight as both Sony Pictures Animation's first adult animated film, and first traditionally animated film.
Good Boy
The horror genre has remained a constant source of invention and imagination. Ben Leonberg's feature debut, Good Boy, plays on the idea that there is a connection between the supernatural and dogs by creating a supernatural thriller that is told from the POV of a canine. For anyone who has seen their dog staring down an empty hallway or barking at nothing, Good Boy is sure to be a thrilling experience and one of the most unique films of the festival.
LifeHack
While the screenlife genre is a uniquely promising genre with standout features including Host, Profile, and Searching, it does feel like there is more ground for the genre to cover. Ronan Corrigan's LifeHack debuted at the 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival and immediately gained attention both for its thrilling elements and entertainment value, truly seeming like the next great entry into this genre.
Occupy Cannes
For any fans of 1984's The Toxic Avenger, Occupy Cannes feels like an immediate must watch. Every year Fantasia brings an electric lineup of documentary offerings with Occupy Cannes capturing the push for the inclusion and celebration of independent art at the Cannes Film Festival. This was a space and push deeply personal to The Toxic Avenger's director, Lloyd Kaufman, and this documentary serves as the feature directorial debut of his daughter, Lily Hayes Kaufman.
Rewrite
One of the major highlights of attending the Fantasia Film Festival year after year is developing a lexicon of the artists that keep returning to the festival. Even if they remain small in mainstream conversations, some filmmakers develop a unique reputation at the festival with screenwriter Makoto Ueda being one of the voices. Collaborating as screenwriter with director Junta Yamaguchi for his Fantasia hits Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020) and River (2023), Yamaguchi has proven to be one of the most talented writers currently working when it comes to playing with time and time loops in film. Directed by Daigo Matsui, Rewrite is another incredibly creative project from Yamaguchi who again plays with time, this time focusing on a summer romance. If his previous work is anything to judge by, the film has all the potential in the world to be something special and one of the more inspired films of the festival this year.
Terrestrial
Directed by Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine), Terrestrial continues Pink's trend of more serious work; following a group of old friends who reconnect to celebrate the success of their host's work as a science fiction author. While things at first seem nice, more and more idiosyncratic behavior from their host begins to cause some division as it quickly becomes clear things are not quite as they appear. A film full of multiple twists and turns, Terrestrial is not only a surprising feature but also one with a meaningful heart. This is a film that is best to go into blind as being able to see it unspoiled will create the best possible viewing experience.
